Roll-driving mechanism for a napping machine and torque control devices therefor



March 27, 1956 T. A. DOURDEVILLE 2,739,366

ROLL-DRIVING MECHANISM FOR A NAPPING MACHINE AND TORQUE CONTROL DEVICESTHEREFOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 26, 1955 INVENTOR. THEODORE A.DOURDEVILLE. BY

Mardl 1956 T. A. DOURDEVILLE 2,739,366

ROLL-DRIVING MECHANISM FOR A NAPPING MACHINE AND TORQUE CONTROL DEVICESTHEREFOR Filed om. 2a, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. THEODORE A.DOURDEVILLE.

ATT'V March 1956 'r. A. DOURDEVILLE 2, 3 ,366

ROLL-DRIVING MECHANISM FOR A NAPPING MACHINE AND TORQUE CONTROL DEVICESTHEREFOR Filed Oct. 26, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TOR. THEODORE A.DOURDEVILLE BY QM. I

March 27, 1956 T A DOURDEVILLE 2,739,366

ROLL-DRIVING MECHANISM FOR A NAPPING MACHINE AND TORQUE CONTROL DEVICESTHEREFOR Filed Oct. 26, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Sla. 9

82 81 El]. 5a

IN V EN TOR. THEODORE A. DOURDEVILLE.

Unite ROLL-DRIVING MECHANISM FOR A NAPPING MACHINE AND TORQUE C(BNTROLDEVICES THEREFOR Theodore A. Dourdeville, Holden, Mass, assignor toDavid Gessner Company, Worcester, Mass a corporation of MassachusettsApplication October 26, 1953, Serial No. 383,141

s Claims. c1. 26-34 This invention relates to napping machines of theplanetary type in which pile and counter-pile napping rolls are arrangedalternately in a circular series in a rotated drum or carrier and engagethe adjacent surface of a piece of cloth which is drawn at a definitespeed through the machine.

The napping surfaces of the rolls move in the same cloth structure whichoffers a given resistance results in a particular roll speed.

The net applied torque is controlled by the operator but the actualrotational speed of the rolls may vary as a consequence of the nature ofthe load. In the known prior art, the operator, on the contrary,selected a given roll speed which was thereafter approximatelymaintained and with but slight response to changes in load oroperating'conditions.

To the attainment of this general object, I preferably provide aconstant-volume-output pump, separate hydraulic motors for the two setsof rolls, and separate ate nt means to vary the effective torque of eachmotor by increasing or decreasing the net operating pressure on saidmotor, and with said two motors operating substantially in parallel.

In a modified construction, the motors operate in series in asubstantially closed circuit, and a single pressure-control device isprovided.

In a third form of the invention, provisionis made" for selectiveoperation of the two hydraulic motors ineither parallel or seriesrelation. Mechanism may also be provided for automatically maintainingsubstantially co'nstant roll speeds during a continued napping machineoperation.

My invention further relates to arrangements and combinations of partswhich will be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out inthe appended claims.

Preferred forms of the invention are shown in the drawings, in whichFig. l is a sectional end view of a planetary type napping machine withcertain parts omitted for clarity;

Fig. 2 is a partial axial section, 22 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view showing hydraulic 'connections forindependently controlling and driving the pile and counter-pile nappingrolls respectively; p

Fig. 4 is a similar diagrammatic view showing ,the

connections for controlling and driving the pile and counterpile nappingrolls at a fixed speed ratio but responsive to. cloth-resistance;

' Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view showing additional valves 'and'connections by which the two' sets of rolls may be taken along the lineplained;

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, I have shown parts of a planetary' typenapping machine which is in general of commercial form and whichcomprises a casing 10 in which a main shaft 11 is mounted in fixedbearings for continuous rotation at a uniform speed.

A- plurality of pile napping rolls R and counter-pile napping rolls R2are alternated in a circular series in heads 12 fixed to the shaft 11and rotated thereby. 7

Each counter pile roll R is provided with a pinion (Fig. 2) which mesheswith and is driven by a spur gear 21', and each pile roll R is providedwith a pinion 2 2 meshing with and driven by a spur gear 24.

In. Fig. 2, the pinion 20 is shown as having twenty-five teeth and thegear 21 as having 221 teeth, while the pinion 22 is shown as havingtwenty-one teeth and the gear 24 as having 225 teeth. These gear ratiosfacilitate roll assembly and are illustrative only.

The spur gear 21 which drives the counter-pile napping rolls R2 isloosely mounted and has a pinion associated therewith which is engagedby a gear 32 driven by a commercial type hydraulic motor H2. The spurgear 24 which drives the pile napping rolls R has an extended hub orbushing 33 loosely mounted on the main shaft 11, and this hub isprovided with a pinion 35 engaged by a gear 36 corresponding to the gear32 previously described and driven by a second and independent hydraulicmotor 1-1 (Fig. l).

The cloth C approaches the machine over a guide-roll 40 (Fig. 1) andthen passes around a front feed roll 41. After substantially encirclingthe series of napping rolls, the cloth C then passes around a rear feedroll 42 and over a guide-roll 43 to suitable folding or other disposalmechanism (not shown).

The feed rolls 41 and 42 are connected by' pulleys 44 and 45 and a belt4-6. They rotate at substantially the same surface speed but maintain adesired tension on the cloth; The belt pulley 44 has an associated gear47 meshing with a pinion 42% which is connected by pulleys 49 and a belt50 to the main driving shaft 11. The hydraulic motor H2 is supplied withliquid by a pump P which has a constant volume output.

In the operation of the machine, the main shaft 11 rotates the heads 12,thus moving the circular series of napping rolls around a circlar path.The main shaft 11 is also connected as described to drive thecloth-engaged feed rolls 41 and 42 and thus passes the cloth through themachine at a predetermined rate which is coordinated with the travel ofthe napping rolls in their circular path.

The net or resultant rotation of the counter-pile napping rolls R2 abouttheir own axes is produced by the combination of the rotational movementof the head or carrier 12 and the action of the motor H2 through thegear 32, pinion 30, spur gear 21 and roll pinions 20. The rotation ofthe pile napping rolls R is similarly effected but involves the motor Hacting through thegear 36, pinion 35,

spur gear 24, and roll pinions 22.

Thehydraulic connections by which the motors H and H2" are controlledand operated are shown diagrammatically in Fig. 3, in which theconstant-volume-outputpump P is connected to the hydraulic motor H2through a pipe having portions 50 and 51. The motor H2 is also providedwith a discharge pipe 52 and with a pressure-regulating relief valve Vwhich is connected at the junction of the pipe portions 50 and 51 asshown.

A handle 54 is provided for manual setting of the valve V, and the valveV discharges through a pipe 55 into the pipe 52 previously described.

The pipe 52 is also connected into the junction of two pipe portions 56and 57. The portion 56 connects into a reducing valve V2 which may bepermanently set for a desired back-pressure and which discharges to anopen tank T.

Pipe 57 is connected into the pile motor H, and this motorH dischargesthrough a pipe 58 and a relief valve V3 to a pipe 59 connected todischarge into the tank T.

A hand wheel 60 provides for manual setting of the valve V3.

Considering now the counter-pile motor H2, it will be seen that thedischarge or back-pressure in the pipe 52 is controlled by the valve V2which is permanently set at any desired back-pressure, such as 100 p. s.i.

As liquid is supplied by the pump P at a constant volume output, thespeed of the motor H2 will depend on the ratio of oil delivered to themotor and oil by-passed through the valve V to the back-pressure pipe52.

The motor pull and consequently the pull of the counter-pile nappingrolls R2 is exerted against the resistance of the cloth during thenapping operation. If this resistance increases, the rolls and thehydraulic motor will slow down and an additional volume of oil will beby-passed through the valve V. Consequently, a substantially con- .stanttorque or reaction to the cloth resistance is maintained.

In the case of the pile napping rolls R, the pull of the .cloth tends toincrease the proportionate speed of the pile rolls and to make the motorH function as a pump, and with a braking rather than a driving action.Back- .pressure oil is supplied through the pipe 57, and the motor H,acting as a pump, discharges this oil at a higher pressure which isdetermined by the pressure-regulating valve V3, now on the dischargeside of the motor. Gauges G and G2 may be connected into the pipes 51 byboth motors is returned to the open tank T.

In the construction shown in Fig. 4, a normally-closed circuit isprovided between the hydraulic motors H and H2, and in this combinationalso the motor H acts as a pump or brake. In this construction, the pumpP discharges a constant volume output into a pipe 70 connected to theintake of the motor H. A discharge pipe 71 connects the outlet of themotor H to the intake of .the motor H2, and the discharge pipe 72 of themotor 'H2 is connected into the feed pipe 70 for the motor H.

A single pressure-relief valve V6 is provided in the pipe 70 butadjacent the pump P, and the discharge pressure ,may be regulated by thehand wheel 73 as previously described. The valve V6 discharges into anopen tank P2.

With this construction, the pump P provides relatively low pressurethrough the pipe 70 for the motor H, and the motor H acting as a pump,supplies relatively high-' pressure oil through the pipe '71 to themotor H2. This motor in turn discharges through the pipe 72 at the lowerpressure in the pipe 70. This lower pressure may be regulated by thevalve V6, and any surplus output of the pump P will be dischargedthrough the valve V6 to the tank T2.

This construction will conserve power as the pile motor H runsregeneratively but it is less flexible than the construction shown inFig. 3, as the motors H and H2 must rotate in fixed speed relation, andthe pile and counterpile napping rolls must correspondingly rotate in afixed ,speed ratio. The speed of the motors will be determined by theload or cloth-resistance, as in the previous construction, but anychange in the speed of the pile rolls must be associated with a similarchange in the speed of the counter-pile rolls.

In the napping of certain types of fabric, this fixed speed relation isnot objectionable, and the pump P may operate at a much smaller deliveryrate, as it merely maintains a relatively low pressure and replacesleakage.

The arrangement shown in Fig. 3 is found most desirable for relativelylight napping operations on cloth of relatively uniform weight andtexture, while the construction shown in Fig. 4 is somewhat betteradapted for relatively hard or heavy napping operations.

In Fig. 5, I have shown combined connections by which the machine may bemade to operate with the motors H and H2 substantially parallel andindependently adjustable, as in Fig. 3, or operating in a fixed speedrelation as in Fig. 4.

To attain this result, I have connected the pump P through a pipe to amanually adjustable reducing valve V8, and I also connect the pipe 80through pipes 81 and 81a to the motor H2. I insert a three-way valve V9between the pipes 81 and 81a, and I also connect said valve V9 through aby-pass 82 to a similar valve V10 in the discharge pipe 84 of the motorH. The valve V10 is also connected through a pipe 85 and reducing valveV11 to atmospheric discharge.

The discharge pipe of the motor H2 is connected through a pipe 93 to thesupply pipe 94 of the motor H, and a permanently adjusted reducing valveV12 connects the pipes 93 and 94 to atmospheric exhaust.

By setting the valve V9 as shown in Fig. 5a and the valve V10 as shownin Fig. 51;, independent and torquecontrolled operation of each motor Hand H2 may be attained as in Fig. 3. By setting the valves V9 and V10 asshown in Figs. 5c and 5d, operation of the motors H and H2 will be infixed speed ratio.

If it is desired under certain conditions to operate the hydraulic motorH or H2 in Fig. 3 at a substantially constant speed rather than torquecontrol, an automaticv speed control device may be provided to adjustthe hand wheel 54 in response to slight speed variations of the motorH2, and a similar device may be provided to similarly adjust the handwheel 60 for the motor H. Such automatic devices have been foundeffective in holding speed variation to within one percent.

The details of construction of these automatic devices constituteindependent subject matter and are not herein claimed.

The above-described roll-driving mechanism and torque control devicespresent important advantages in commercial operation.

In the construction shown in Fig. 3, each set of napping rolls isindependently torque-controlled, and overtravcl of the cloth in eitherdirection is easily prevented.

Satisfactory operating conditions, once attained, are easily reproducedby adjusting the mechanisms to provide the same pressures on the gaugesG and G2.

With light or relatively weak materials or with knit goods which areeasily stretchable, the effective torque may be correspondingly reducedand may be made almost neglible so that damage to such frail fabrics iseffectively. avoided.

. In the regenerative construction shown in Fig. 4, the operation of thetwo sets of rolls is definitely related,

which is most desirable to meet extreme working. conditions.

While I have described mechanism which is primarily adapted to hydraulicoperation, many of the described advantages may be attained with othertypes of power development.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do notwish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than asset forth in the claims, but what I claim is:

1. In a planetary-type napping machine having a set of pile nappingrolls and a set of counter-pile napping rolls, in combination, ahydraulic motor to drive each set of rolls, means to supply liquid inconstant volume output to said motors, means to regulate 'the supplypressure of the counter-pile motor, and means to regulate the dischargepressure of the pile motor.

2. The combination in a planetary napping machine as set forth in claim1, in which the first regulating means also provides a by-pass forexcess liquid supply.

3. The combination in a napping machine as set forth in claim 1, inwhich cross connections provide for regenerative operation of the pilemotor, and manuallyoperated valves provide selective determination ofthe type of operation.

4. In a planetary-type napping machine having a set of pile nappingrolls and a set of counter-pile napping rolls, in combination, aseparate hydraulic motor for each set of rolls, a pump to supply aconstant volume output of operating liquid for said motors, andconnections through which said liquid operates to drive the counter-pilemotor and to retard the rotation of the pile motor.

5. In a planetary-type napping machine having a set of pile nappingrolls and a set of counter-pile napping rolls, in combination, aseparate hydraulic motor for each set of rolls, a pump to supply aconstant volume output of operating liquid for said motors, connectionsthrough which said liquid operates to drive the counterpile motor and toretard the rotation of the pile motor, and separate means to control andmaintain a selected net torque for each motor.

6. In a planetary-type napping machine having a set of pile nappingrolls and a set of counter-pile napping rolls, in combination, aseparate hydraulic motor for each set of rolls, a pump to supply aconstant volume output of liquid to said motors, and connectionseffecting closed circuit and regenerative operation of said two motorsin series and in a fixed speed ratio.

7. In a planetary-type napping machine having a set of pile nappingrolls and a set of counter-pile napping rolls, in combination, separatedriving means for each set of rolls, means to establish the net torquefor each set of rolls, and automatic torque-maintaining means utilizingthe pull on the cloth on the pile rolls and effective to vary the speedof each set of rolls inversely with respect to cloth resistance and tothereby automatically maintain substantially uniform torque.

8. In a planetary-type napping machine having a set of pile nappingrolls and a set of counter-pile napping rolls, in combination, aseparate hydraulic motor for each set of rolls, a pump to supply aconstant volume output of operating liquid for said motors, connectionsthrough which said liquid operates to drive the counterpile motor and toretard the rotation of the pile motor, separate means to control andmaintain a selected net torque for each motor, devices to adjust saidseparate control means, and gauge means to indicate the adjustedpressures.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS652,843 Grosselin July 3, 1900 1,986,746 Quick -1 Jan. 1, 1935 2,120,576Scholaert July 14, 1938 2,667,681 Langlois Feb. 2, 1954

